09-18-2012 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 Page 5 of 6 [Council called a five minute recess at 7:48 P.M. Council returned from recess at 7:56 P.M.] ITEM 11: LAKE ELMO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UPDATE (Item moved to accommodate additional public wishing to comment) City Administrator Zuleger presented information on the current concerns of the city’s traffic enforcement and highlighted the red zone traffic policing in the community in the past six months. He expressed the practice has produced data from 11 different sites in the city on speed, time of day, and number of vehicles. He stated staff has been working closely with MnDOT, Washington County and the Safe Route to School program regarding traffic concerns on Lake Elmo Avenue and Highway 5. He stated they have specifically requested traffic calming efforts in these areas and reported the speed trailer will be on Highway 5 beginning on September 19, 2012. Recommendations and requests include the following: 1) Speed limit reduction on Lake Elmo Avenue from 40mph to 30mph from 20th Street to Highway 5. 2) Zero tolerance for speeding (writing citations at the lowest possible speed over the limit). 3) Speed limit reduction on Highway 5 from Jamaca Avenue (the roundabout) to Klondike Avenue from 55mph to 45mph. In addition, a reduction to 30mph from Klondike Avenue to Manning Avenue is requested. 4) Perform Road Safety Audit on Highway 5. Mayor Johnston inquired whether the Parks Commission had discussed a trail or sidewalk on either stretch of road, and City Administrator Zuleger replied in the affirmative and those discussions are beginning. Council Member Smith recalled a project discussion involving Lake Elmo Avenue in the past and asked City Engineer Griffin if he recalled the property owners were opposed to the trail on Lake Elmo Avenue to which Mr. Griffin replied he did recall the discussion similarly. Discussion was had regarding staff’s work on the traffic enforcement overtime approved at the last council meeting but the additional officers have yet to begin the increased traffic enforcement for the approved 30 day period of extra patrol. Mayor Johnston explained that adding an officer fulltime would cost the city approximately $120,000 annually and approximately $40 per household in taxes annually to put it in to perspective for residents. Council Member Park supported the speed limit reduction on Highway 5 and stated how difficult the traffic has become in this area. Mayor Johnston suggested a parked squad car as a traffic calming advice. City Administrator Zuleger reiterated how the zero-tolerance enforcement policy works. Mayor Johnston noted that the code-red enforcement has been mildly successful with non-residents, but fairly successful with residents. PUBLIC COMMENTS: